Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-09-08

| charmed lie.
The fever had run Its course,
when, in September n cool. wet
week broke the oppressive, heat, and no
new cases occurred afterward except
one. But all, that one tore the doc
tors heart-sirings moro than all the
rest, for in her room, tossing in
delrious agony, May called pitifully
for the father she did not recognize,
the lover, absent from her, tho friends
gone from earth forever. Over and
over again she lived the painful scenes
of the past few weeks, and Mrs. Wells,
her faithful nurse, knew she stood
very near the grave for many long
days.
May did not know when Mark Pen
dleton was sent for and admitted to the
darkencd room, for what they feared
was a last gaze at his promised wife;
she did not know when all the glori-
Gus profusion of her golden hair was
shorn of, to place bladlers of ice upon
her head; she knew nothing for many,
many days, till. waking from Il long,
deep sleep, she saw, with clear, com.
pretending eyes, her fathers face
bending over her.
She smiled, wondering where her
voice had gone, as she said, family:
"Father!
And he, softly kissing her eyelids, as
they closed again, only murmured:
Thank God. my child is spared to
me-"
There was a long convalcscence, and
after May could sit up and be dressed
she wondered where her mirror and
hand-glas had vanished. Mrs. Wells
muttorcd something about "Eliza's so
careless, always breaking something"
and her father called her little vanity"
with a quvcring smile. when she asked
for them.
Even when Mark came, as he did
several times. Mrs. Wells dressed her,
tied on the lace cap that covered her
poor, bald head, and said sick folk
weren't expected 10 prink."
But one day, when she felt nearly
well, she stole down to the sitting-room
alone, and looked full in the mirror
over the mantlepiecc.
She knew then why she had been so
tenderly guarded from the shock of
seeing her own face. \ border of fluted
lace replaced her splendid hair, and a
uniform deep pink color was spread
like mask over her whole face. Her
eyes were sunken, and strange, I'M
natural uglineSs seemed to have usurped
her own beauty. Covering her face
she wept bitter, unavaling tears.
She had been innoccntly proud of
her lovely face. and Mark had loved
it. Even in her first grief she thought
most of her lover. sobDing his name
till, as if in answer, he bent over her.
May" he said. edo not gricve so.
1t is only your beauty that is gone.
The best of YOU is here. little May"
She looked up saving;
You had better call me Mary Jane
now. 1t suits my face better
II want to call you Mrs. Pcndleton,
as soon as possible he replied gaiIy.
Mark. You would not mary such
a s'ght?'
just try me! Why, May" he add
ed, gravelv, "vou surely do not imagine
this change in your face shakes my
love. suppose this fever had come
after we were married, DO you suppose
| should have run away?'
~ on would have been forced to sub
nit then, | suppose, she said. very
dolefu!Iy. Now YOU can escape
Thanks! am very well content
in my present bondage. assure YOU.
And he proved the fact by urging an
immediate wedding. The doctor smil-
ed when May made some wandering
comments, saving: Il should he sorry
to think Mark loved only Your beauty.
my daughter.
And the old man INDUCED in a most
unusual chuckIc, As if immensely anus
ell by some thought of his own.
But the wedding was once more post
poned by Mark himself Ills brother
in New Orleans died suldcdly, and the
widow needed some one to look after
the property. So the winter glidcd
away, and April opened, when dis
patch announced Mark speedy return,
and preparations for the wedding were
FASTENED in earnest.
The doctor met Mr.. Pendleton at the
station. and drove him to the house,
assuring him that the day they had pre-
viou>ly selected for the marriage, the
18th, would now meet his engagements
exactly.
But that is this evening"
Exactly! | will postpone it if you
wish"
II! No, indeed, But you must give
me Il chance to dress
You have three hours. 1t is now
five. My friends will assemble at eight.
You are my guest
MAY was invisible while Mark ate his
supper, and he was escorted to the spare
room, where his trunk stood open and
every comfort was ready for his toilet.
But 4 tall, slender, white-robed fig
urc, with long lace VIC i. waited. lean
ing upon DR.. Trask's arm, when the
bridegroom WAS ready. and slowly ad-
vanced with him into the drawing
room filled with friends. The solemn
| words were spoken that made May his
own, and then the bridesmaids gently
lifted the veil, and Mark saw his wife.
His May. fairer than ever. stood be-
fore him, her delicate beauty perfectly
restored. Upon her head, in place of
the heavy brads and coils OF hair, were
tiny, clustering ringlets of gold like a
baby's; the pink mask was gone. and
the soft complexion was delicately fair
and pure.
1t was long time afterward that
DIR. Trask told his son-in-law.
..Of course | knew the Disagreement